Clothes-line prop.



No. 880,748. PATENTED MAR. a, 1908.

D. MoDOUGALL.

CLOTHES LINE PROP. APPLICATION FILED mum, 1907. RENEWED JAN. 0, 190a.

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CLOTHES-LINE PROP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Application filed March 4. 1907. Serial No. 360.420. Renewed January 911908- Serial No. 110011.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID McDoUGALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Line Prop, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clothes line props and has for its object theprovision of a knock down prop including a plurality of pivoted sectionsone of which is movable laterally to closed position so that saidsections may be compactly folded for transportation or shipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking thefolding section in extended position, and means for retaining thelocking means in inoperative position when the pivoted sections arefolded.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that various changes in form, proportions and minor detailsof construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knock down prop constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the propin folded or collapsed position. transverse sectional view of the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor responding parts in all ofthe figures of the drawings.

The improved prop forming the subject matter of the present inventionconsists of relatively stationary and movable sections 5 and 6 havingtheir adjacent ends over-lapped and pivotally united by a transversebolt or in 7. p The free end of the relatively stationary section 5 isprovided with a pointed terminal 8 adapted to enter the ground while thefree end of the upper or movable section 6 is bifurcated to form a slot9 adapted to receive an ordinary clothes line. The bifurcated end of theupper section 6 is preferably reinforced and strengthened by atransverse rod or pin 10 having oppositely disposed heads 11 Which bearagainst the adjacent longitudinal Fig. 3 is ations 5 and 6 in extendedposition there is provided a pair of clamping collars or sleeves 12 and13 each preferably formed of a single piece of flat metal having itsopposite ends over-lapped and riveted together at 14.

The collar 12 is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement on thesection 6 while the collar 13 is mounted for sliding movement on thesection 5, said collars being movable to operative position inengagement with the ivoted ends of the adjacent sections so as to ocksaid sections in alinement with each other when the prop is used in theordinary manner. As a means for retaining the locking collars 12 and 13in inoperative position during the folding operation suitable keepers 15are secured to the longitudinal edges of the sections 5 and 6, saidkeepers being each preferably formed of a single piece of metal havingits opposite ends rigidly secured to the pivoted sections and itsintermediate portion bent downwardly to form a central dependingprojection or lug 16 defining spaced slots or recesses 17 and 18 adaptedto receive the clamping collars. When it is desired to use the prop theupper or movable section 6 is swung laterally and upwardly on itspivotal aXis 7 until the opposite longitudinal edges of the pivotedsections are in alinement with each other after which the lockingcollars 12 and 13 are moved into engagement with the ends of adjacentsections thus securely locking the sections against lateral movement. Inorder to fold the sections the collars 12 and 13 are released from thepivoted ends of said sections and forced laterally against the inclinedfaces of the spring pressed lugs or projections 16 thus elevating saidlugs and permitting the collars to engage the slots or recesses 18 andin which position they will be held against accidental displacementduring the folding operation. After the collars 12 and 13 have beenreleased from the pivoted ends of the sections 5 and 6 the section 6 isforced laterally and downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings and in which position the prop may be conveniently carried fromplace to place. Attention is called to the fact that when the propsections are folded the clamping colars 12 and 13 will be disposed oneabove the other and thus permit said sections to lie substantiallyparallel with each other throughout their entire lengths.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A clothes line prop including pivotally united sections foldable oneupon the other and movable laterally to extended position, a lockingmember slidably mounted on each section and adapted to engage the end ofthe adjacent section, and means carried byeach section and forming aguide for the adjacent locking member for holding said members inoperative and inoperative position.

' 2. A clothes line prop including mating sections having their lowerends over-lapped and pivota'lly united, said sections being foldstrapssecured to one longitudinal edge of each section and provided with acentral depression defining spaced slots, and a locking member slidablymounted in said slots and adapted to engage the end of the adjacentsection for locking said sections in extended position.

4. A clothes line prop including pivotally united sections foldable oneupon the other and movable laterally to extended position, strapssecured to one longitudinal edge of each section and having anintermediate portion thereof bent downwardly to form a spring pressedprojection, and collars slidably mounted on the sections at said strapsand movable into engagement with the end of the adjacent section forlocking said sections in extended position, said collars being held ininoperative position by engagement with the spring pressed projections.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID McDOUGALL.

Witnesses:

KATHERINE C. PEAsE, ALBERT HAwARTI-L

